Commissioners say federal earmark could bring $3M-plus CDL training campus to Polk County

Polk County commissioners said they have been working with the Texas State University System (TSUS) and Lamar University to secure a federal earmark of more than $3,000,000 to establish a commercial driver’s license (CDL) training campus in Polk County.

An unnamed county official told the court that the earmark "it's over $3,000,000 for the campus and that the earmark has been signed and approved by president Trump and has now moved into the transportation, committee at the federal level." The official said the county has property available across from the landfill and expects the partnership to expand existing TSUS CDL training capacity available through the local campus.

Commissioners credited Dr. Stafford and local contacts for helping secure the earmark and said the project would benefit Polk County and surrounding East Texas counties by allowing local residents to obtain CDL training without traveling out of the area. Officials said they will provide updates once more formal federal documentation is received.

This report was presented as an informational update; no contract or county financial commitment was approved at this meeting.